We are currently developing an ice core melting and analysis laboratory at Dartmouth College, including an ice core melting system with discrete sampling (see our publication describing this system here), an ion chromatograph for major ion analysis, and freezer facilities for sample storage. The lab should be fully operational by January, 2011. I am also working with Bob Hawley and Zoe Courville to enhance the ice core processing facilities at CRREL, located just down the road from the Hanover campus, to provide clean ice sampling and ice core cutting capabilities. Through collaborations with Prof. Feng and Anthony Faiia in the Dartmouth Stable Isotope Lab, we also have the ability to analyze d¹⁸O and dD ratios in ice core samples.

Collecting an ice core in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica using a PICO hand auger. The ice core lab has access to a Kovacs Mark III hand auger (similar to the PICO pictured above) recently purchased by Prof. Hawley.	An ice core ready to be sampled using the continuous melting system with discrete sampling.
Schematic diagram of the ice core melter system with descrete sampling	An ice core slab melting into the custom-made ice core melt head, which collects pristine meltwater from the center of the ice core for chemical analyses.
The ice core meltwater is pumped from the melt head to be collected in pre-cleaned bottles by three fraction collectors under HEPA clean benches.	Zoomed view of pristine ice core meltwater being collected in pre-cleaned vials by a fraction collector under a HEPA clean bench for chemical analysis.